S.P. Sullivan, NJ.comThe Bergen County Freeholders will hold public hearings on the county's law enforcement agencies' budgets this week and on Monday.

HACKENSACK — The Board of Chosen Freeholders begins public hearings on the budgets of Bergen County law enforcement agencies Thursday, after the release of a task force's report on a consolidation study advised against merging the county police with other departments.

The freeholders delayed holding the public hearings until after the release of the Task Force's report, which looked at the feasibility of a $600,000 consolidation study performed by Guidepost Solutions. Ultimately, the task force did not support Guidepost's major recommendation, which would roll much of the functions of the Bergen County Police into the Sheriff's Department.

Hearing schedule

Department of Law and Public Safety: Thursday, 1 p.m. — 4 p.m.

Bergen County Sheriff’s Department: Friday, 9:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.

Bergen County Prosecutor: Monday, 9:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.

All hearings are will be held in the Calabrese Caucus room on the 5th floor of One Bergen County Plaza.

Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino, who had supported the initial study and chose not to participate in the task force's examination, had criticized the committee for having a predetermined agenda to preserve the county police. He called the county-based police patrol system "archaic" and pointed to the fact that other counties in New Jersey had eliminated their county police departments.

The freeholders will put questions to the Department of Law and Public Safety, which includes the county police, Thursday afternoon. A hearing for the Sheriff's Department will follow on Friday, and the Prosecutor's Office on Monday.

Mitchell said earlier this week that the freeholders would also be asking the members of the task force to appear before the board to discuss their findings, some of which he said could save the county money very quickly.

"One of the things in the report that jumped out at me was the recommendation of the hiring freeze and the promotion freeze," he said, referring to the task force's recommendation that all agencies place a moratorium on hiring and promotions until a thorough review of their organization and staffing levels is conducted.

"I think that will have an immediate impact in terms of revenues and everything else."